Decisions at Docking

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 19, 11 October 1983, Page 14

Decisions at Docking

Now that docking is underway there are several decisions that farmers can be making according to Will Wilson, Waimarino farm advisory officer for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Ram lambs With the introduction of the revised export carcase grading system for lambs starting this season, it is important to aim to increase the production of leaner carcases. This can be achieved by not castrating early ram lambs said Mr Wilson. Ram lambs provide three major benefits; • they grow faster than wether or ewe lambs; • their carcases have more meat and less fat which is desirable under the new grading system; • no castration means faster docking. There are also some disadvantages that should be considered. Ram lambs may be severely discount'ed if they have to be sold as stores at auction; uncontrolled mating of mixed age ewes and

ewe lambs can be a problem if ram lambs are on the property from March onwards; ram lambs remaining as stores after the end of the season will be reclassed as ram and become relatively valueless. To be safe Mr Wilson suggests that farmers wishing to adopt this practice should leave only single, early-born, rams entire — those that will be drafted January-February. A change in lamb drafting patterns is also suggested as a means to achieve leaner graded lambs. Ewe lambs haye more fat on their carcase than a ram lamb of equal weight.lt is therefOre suggested that ewe lambs be drafted earlier and more frequently than ram lambs. In order to achieve this effectivelv. ewe lambs should be clearly marked at docking. Research has indicated that some 30 per cent of overfat lambs come out of the weaning draft and that the majority of those are ewe lambs.

Drenching at docking Mr Wilson suggests that properties with low cattle ratios and high stocking rates should consider drenching ewes at lambing. The benefits of this are; • a much reduced incidence of daggy ewes; • possible reduction in worrft contamination of pastures by ewes; • possible response in wool production. Similarly, Mr Wilson suggests that farmers should avoid drenching lambs at docking. There are no benefits as lambs under six weeks of age are not eating much pasture and are therefore not exposed to the worm burden. However, said Mr Wilson. in warm areas such as the Makakahi and Ruatiti Valleys, losses due to flv strike; on docked lambs is high. Farmers in these "areas are strongly advised to dip lambs at docking. Setting, painting or dunking the lambs with dip splut^^k minimises the problem.